press release

Assembly candidate Jeff Gates calls out incumbents for failing to support a key opportunity to improve transportation, create jobs, and boost NJ economy.

Gateway Project silence speaks volumes.

Assemblymen Barlas and DePhillips are silent on the effects of the Gateway Project.

    Last week, President Trump declared, “The Gateway Tunnel is terminated,” and the federal government will withhold roughly $18 billion from the largest infrastructure project in the country. This has a devastating effect on the New Jersey economy, jobs, and commuters traveling into New York City.  Legislative District 40, which covers 15 towns in Essex, Passaic, and Bergen Counties, is the home to many of those commuters and union workers that have a job working on the project. The four US Congressional Representatives who overlap our district (Mikie Sherrill, Nellie Pou, LaMonica McIver, and Josh Gottheimer) have all expressed support because they recognize the importance of this project for our district and state. They also know that since Congress approved spending for this project the President can’t legally terminate it on his own. 

    With the devastating effect the cancellation of this project would have on LD40 and NJ, what do our state representatives think? Assemblyman Chris DePhillips serves on the Assembly Transportation Committee, and Assemblyman Al Barlas serves on the Assembly Labor Committee. It’s been a week since the President declared the project is dead and neither have made a public comment. As they are elected officials who serve on these important committees and who claim to support improved transportation and labor unions, the public deserves to know their opinions. Since these candidates are running for re-election on November 4th, voters have a right to know if they are voting for someone who supports the termination of the nation's largest infrastructure project or someone who will help in the fight to make sure it moves forward, so they can make an informed decision as to who will best represent them.

    To be clear, this is a federal project that state representatives don’t vote on.  However, with the upcoming November 4th election, ASK YOURSELF THIS: Do you want a representative who will fight to improve jobs, the economy, and transportation, or one who will go silent when we need them the most?

Please vote for Jeff Gates for Assembly in LD40. I will actively represent your gateway for a better tomorrow.